Foster Miracle Weekend raises millions

David Foster gives two thumbs up at his namesake foundation’s 25th anniversary Miracle Concert on Saturday at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The weekend festivities

With some corporate donations still to be tallied, the David Foster Foundation’s Miracle Weekend has brought in $4.6 million for the locally raised musical star’s charity.

“Victoria proved once again it is a hometown like no other,” said foundation CEO Mike Ravenhill. “A weekend event that was just 12 months in the making, kicked off by (Oak Bay Beach Hotel owners) Kevin and Shawna Walker, has set the stage for another 25 years of our foundation.”

Money raised will go toward providing financial support to Canadian families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants.

The Miracle Weekend, held at the Fairmont Empress and Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, saw 29 people purchase the full $10,000 weekend package and thousands buy tickets to individual events.

On Friday night, 300 people walked up the purple carpet – matching the colour scheme for the weekend – at the Empress to have dinner and enjoy an intimate concert with Foster, where tickets sold for $500.

Premium tickets for Saturday night’s arena performance – which included a gala dinner and a live auction – went for $1,000. The event attracted 700 people. Another 4,130 people attended the concert, shelling out between $75 and $250 per seat.

Onlookers hoping to get a glimpse of the stars and perhaps an autograph or two crowded around the entranceways to both venues.